Extra commercial floor space and a ferry hub that will transport more than 22,000 people who will live and work around Barangaroo has been given the go ahead by premier Nathan Rees.
The introduction of a ferry wharf at Barangaroo will increase the number of workers and residents accessing Barangaroo by ferry from 1 per cent up to as high as 10 per cent, Rees predicted.
“Public transport will be a key feature of Barangaroo, which when completed will be a significant commercial, residential and recreational precinct for Sydney,” Rees said.
The planning and transport departments will now work on the details of the new ferry hub, including the number of wharves needed, construction and operational start times.
“In addition, I have asked the minister to ensure the construction of the walkway to Wynyard station is a priority. I want to make sure it is available simultaneously with the commercial precinct coming on line,” Rees said.
Rees said a proposal to increase the amount of office space at Barangaroo by 120,000 square metres and help lure some of the world’s leading businesses to set up Sydney headquarters has been approved by planning minister Kristina Keneally.
“This takes the total commercial floor space to more than 500,000 square metres of floor space built in the new city precinct — equivalent to just over six Chifley Square buildings,” Rees said.
“Finance, business services and global corporations are looking for large office spaces to establish new headquarters, and Barangaroo is the last site in Sydney’s CBD where an expansion if of this size is possible.
